Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Fichryrainsun’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Fichryrainsun’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plant form; uniform and freely flowering habit; large semi-decorative type inflorescences with red and yellow bi-colored ray florets; response time about 51 days under controlled photoperiodic treatments; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FICHRYRAINSUN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant,botanically known as Chrysanthemum X morifolium, commercially grown as agarden Chrysanthemum plant, referred to as code number 65712 in U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/497,574 and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Fichryrainsun’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new potted Chrysanthemumplants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination made inJanuary, 2013 by the Inventor in Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom of aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as codenumber 807341, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as codenumber 87333, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newChrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Fareham,Hampshire, United Kingdom in September, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by terminalvegetative cuttings was first conducted in Fareham, Hampshire, UnitedKingdom in December, 2013. Asexual reproduction by terminal vegetativecuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemumplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fichryrainsun’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Fichryrainsun’ as a new and distinctChrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and full plant form.    -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large semi-decorative type inflorescences with red and yellow        bi-colored ray florets.    -   6. Response time about 51 days under controlled photoperiodic        treatments.    -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower about three days later        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the female parent        selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the female        parent selection have inflorescences with pink and white        bi-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower about five days later        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the male parent selection        differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent        selection have inflorescences with solid red-colored ray        florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Breeze Cardinal’, not patented. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differprimarily from plants of ‘Breeze Cardinal’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower about five days later        than plants of ‘Breeze Cardinal’.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and ‘Breeze Cardinal’ differ        in ray floret color as plants of ‘Breeze Cardinal’ have        inflorescences with solid red-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Chrysanthemum plant. The photograph is a top perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘Fichryrainsun’ grown in a 14-cm container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring in 14-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom andunder cultural practices typical of commercial garden Chrysanthemumproduction. During the production of the plants, day and nighttemperatures ranged from 17° C. to 21° C. and light levels averaged6,000 lux. Plants were grown under long day/short night conditions forabout two weeks and then grown under short day/long night conditions toinduce inflorescence initiation and development. Plants were nine weeksold when the photograph and detailed description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium    ‘Fichryrainsun’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code number 807341,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code number 87333,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light brown in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous semi-decorative type            potted Chrysanthemum; stems upright to outwardly spreading            giving a uniformly mounded appearance to the plant; numerous            lateral branches and relatively short internodes, dense and            full plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 19 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 34 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; about four primary            lateral branches develop after removal of terminal apex            (pinching).        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 12 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Internode length: About 1.3 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:            About 60° from vertical and then bending upwardly. Texture:            Fine pubescence. Color: Close to 146B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 6.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Palmately-lobed; roughly ovate with three to five            lobes.        -   Apex.—Broadly acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Slightly dentate and palmately lobed; sinuses            between lateral lobes mostly divergent.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Fine pubescence; slightly            rough; veins prominent on lower surface.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,            close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 146B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Fine pubescence; slightly            rough. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Form and flowering habit.—Semi-decorative type inflorescence            form with ligulate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences borne            on terminals above and beyond the foliar plane; disc and ray            florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum; freely            flowering habit with about 24 inflorescences developing per            plant during the flowering season.        -   Fragrance.—Mildly fragrant; pungent, herbaceous.        -   Flowering response.—Plants flower uniformly about 51 days            after starting short day/long night photoperiodic            treatments.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;            inflorescences maintain good color and substance for about            two to three weeks on the plant; inflorescences persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter: About            8 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: Close to 138A.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Large, about 8 cm.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Shape: Conical. Color: Close to 145B.        -   Ray florets.—Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About            25 arranged in about two whorls. Orientation: Initially            upright, then about 45° from vertical. Length: About 3 cm.            Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Mammillate. Base:            Fused into a short tube. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; double-keeled. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Center and distally, close to 187C            and towards the base, 14B. When opening, lower surface:            Center and distally, close to 187C and towards the base,            13B. Fully opened, upper surface: Center and distally, close            to 53A and towards the base, 23B; with development, colors            becoming closer to 187C and 14B. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 183C and 7B; with development, colors            becoming closer to 187C and 13B.        -   Disc florets.—Number of disc florets per inflorescence:            About 160 massed at the center of the receptacle. Length:            About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated;            apices, acute. Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, when opening and fully opened: Apex: Close            to 9A. Mid-section: Close to 145A. Base: Close to 157D.        -   Phyllaries.—Number of phyllaries per inflorescence: About 25            arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 9 mm. Width:            About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            waxy. Texture, lower surface: Fine pubescence; waxy. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 2 cm. Diameter,            terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Angle: Erect to about 20°            from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: Close to 138A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: None observed. Gynoecium:            Present only on ray florets. Pistil length: About 6 mm.            Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 7A. Style            length: About 0.4 mm. Style color: Close to 145B. Ovary            color: Close to 1D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum to date.-   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Chrysanthemum plants has not been observed on plants of the new    Chrysanthemum to date.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    demonstrated good garden performance and to tolerate temperatures    from about 0° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named‘Fichryrainsun’ as illustrated and described.